Mr Calm no more – Bellamy revels in Wales’ chaos

Craig Bellamy’s new moniker was brief.

After a frustrating first half against Kazakhstan, the Wales head coach was referred to as “Mr. Calm” by captain Ben Davies on Saturday.

A few people may have begun to wonder about Davies’ moniker, but Bellamy the player is a combustible, volatile sort, for those who are familiar with him.

However, Bellamy, the coach, is not the young footballer Bobby Robson, his former assistant manager at Newcastle United, who claimed he could start a conversation in a dark room.

Bellamy has gotten older and is now 45 and a leader in his country. Bellamy the coach is a different person, one who takes pride in maintaining his composure and analytical eye after going through introspection and self-analysis.

Players have praised his thoughtful team presentations and thorough tactical presentations, and he has had extensive, thoughtful media interviews.

But that cool veneer vanished instantly in North Macedonia on Tuesday night when Wales bundled in an added-time equalizer after the drama’s conclusion.

An excited Bellamy jumped in the air and roared with joy as David Brooks’ shot soared over the line. When asked to express his feelings, his feet had hardly ever touched the ground.

“My primary response,” you ask? Still, he said, “probably shock.”

“Calm? Not at all. I’m not even now. I anticipated a difficult day without having to accept losing. However, you must accept certain things at your own risk.

The game’s narrative arc was weakened by the injury-time chaos.

After 90 minutes, substitute Joe Allen’s backpass was intercepted by Bojan Miovski, whose goal had sparked enthusiastic cheers among the home players and supporters. It appeared to have been a sucker punch.

Then came the big man’s bedlam, as Wales reacted to Bellamy’s method of patient build-up play and sent the ball past big Kieffer Moore, who nodded the ball down for fellow substitute David Brooks, who drove the ball over the line from close range.

Bellamy couldn’t hide his frustration despite the unfiltered joy of that moment.

To witness it happen was like “Wow,” but to come away with a point, he said, “I have to be honest, because of the performance.”

“In the manner, of course, we must take it.” We had the upper hand in the game, in my opinion, but sometimes football finds a cruel way.

“Maybe because I didn’t experience defeat in my brief time, but I still believed there was something more.”

With four victories and four draws, Bellamy’s eighth game as head of Wales, which gave him a strong start to World Cup qualifying, and he hasn’t lost in the process.

In Skopje, his annoyance was understandable. Wales struggled to achieve the three points they warranted while North Macedonia offered very little.

Bellamy will make sure Wales is aware that this was a missed opportunity once the excitement of the celebrations subsides.

With top seeds Belgium still to play, Wales are second in Group J, trailing only North Macedonia in goal difference.

“It [could have]be a very priceless one]point.” I think we needed three based on the performance, in my opinion, given how I looked at the game today. However, time will tell, and it might turn out to be significant.